Alara Kalesi
Alara Kalesi
4.5
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4.5
106 reviews
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26
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8
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2
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1
Vegepertti
61 contributions
Apr 2022 • Solo
Many seem to think this one as a alanya castle which it is not. This is a separate location, really in the middle of nowhere. Great view after a quite demanding hike. Dont even try to go up there in slippers or high heels or if youre afraid of hights & tunnels.
Otherwise just go ahead, remember to take water with you. Its really a good exercise for an athletic too.
follow the path through old greenhouse to the river and 1st part of the tunnel. I skipped this tunnel and followed the path on top of it. 2nd part of the tunnel you need to enter, climb the stairs to the lower part of the castle.
The path/ stairs upwards start from the middle of the lower part of the castle. From that point on you will find blue arrows painted to the stones until you reach the turkey flag. Good luck and be careful up there
Otherwise just go ahead, remember to take water with you. Its really a good exercise for an athletic too.
follow the path through old greenhouse to the river and 1st part of the tunnel. I skipped this tunnel and followed the path on top of it. 2nd part of the tunnel you need to enter, climb the stairs to the lower part of the castle.
The path/ stairs upwards start from the middle of the lower part of the castle. From that point on you will find blue arrows painted to the stones until you reach the turkey flag. Good luck and be careful up there
Written 20 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex H
Sydney, Australia22 contributions
Sept 2022 • Solo
As mentioned elsewhere, don't confuse this with the castle in Alanya. This castle is raw and so much better for it - don't expect any fences or signs. A few long and partially collapsed tunnels will take you to the mid-levels before a very tough slog under the sun (following some faded arrows) will get you up to the top (taking ~30-45min up and shorter back). Come prepared with reasonable footwear and plenty of water. One of the best castles I've visited.
Written 30 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SerratusNorway
Norway27 contributions
June 2014 • Family
Alara Castle (Alara Kalesi in Turkish) must be one of the best kept secrets on the Antalya-Alanya coast. If you are tired of your sunbed by the pool and want to experience something completely different, this may be it. We spent a week at a beautiful holiday resort just outside Side, but the tour to Alara Castle was clearly the most memorable thing we did this week. It’s only about 40 km from Side. I have found little practical information about Alara Castle on the net, so I will try to go into a bit of detail to make the trip easier for those who might be interested. And you should be!
The castle was built in the 11th century on top of a tall cliff, and the only way to get up is by following a steep trail that in some places have steps carved into the mountain, and in some places go through a tunnel. The castle is relatively well preserved, not nearly excavated, and not “touristified” at all. You will probably be the only visitors that day if you go, we met no one. There are no signs, no Coca-Cola machines, no admission fee, nothing but nature and ruins, and of course bats! Extremely different from what you usually see at the coast. That’s also why it can be a bit hard to find, and to get to. We were a family of four, two teenage kids and middle aged parents. We are all in good shape and used to hiking in steep mountains, but not experienced climbers. You must be prepared to climb, but it’s not at all difficult climbing, and it helps if you like Indiana Jones! You should not be afraid of the dark, and you should be able to handle a few bats flying around your head!
We hired a car, found Alara Castle on Google Maps on our phone, and followed the GPS on the phone. That made it easy to find, but we would have had a hard time without the GPS. It’s only a 10-15 min drive from the main road (D400) running along the coast, but no signs and many crossings. Go to Alrarahan caravanserai which was a resting place on the Silk Road that the castle on the cliff was set to protect. All the other tourists stop here. Pass it and continue about 500 m, as long as the road goes, and park by the road or at the small restaurant at the end of the road.
The trail starts at the end of the road, just after the last restaurant and farm that lies by the river, on the east side of the river. You cross some fields and old greenhouses, but then head towards the river again and get onto a good path. An old lady at the farm insisted on showing us the way. She didn’t speak a word of English but “tunnel”, but was very helpful, and followed us the first part of the way which was a bit hard to find across the fields. She obviously also expected some payment for her services. As long as you follow the east bank of the river you can’t miss the trail. After about 500 m, when it gets steep, you will begin to see the red arrows that are painted on the stone. These are essential. You won’t have a chance to get up unless you follow the arrows, and look carefully for them. It is some years since they were painted, and some are very faded. Some places they mark essential turns that you must not miss. There is actually only one tunnel. It is probably about 30-50 m long, but in the middle the roof has fallen down so it looks like two tunnels. The first opening is close to the riverbank, but is just a small hole in the ground right next to the trail on the right side. You will miss it if you don’t look carefully. You will see a bright colored blue bathing bridge at the riverbank just below it. But: Don’t go in there. Follow the trail that is getting steep, until you get to the next opening (where the roof has fallen down), and enter the tunnel there. More on why later. Inside the tunnel are steps carved into the ground, but some of them are destroyed and missing so watch your step. There are actually small openings in the roof to let a little light in, but you will have to wait long to adapt to the darkness that feels pitch dark in the beginning. It is very helpful to have a torch, we used our mobile phones and that worked just fine. And now comes the scary part, at least to some of us. There are bats in the tunnel! In this upper part there are not very many, we saw 20 maybe, and the will fly out as you approach them. Nothing to worry about at all, but it really makes you feel like Indiana Jones. If somebody has gone through the tunnel before you, they may all be gone for a long time. There are no more tunnels after this, just a couple of very short hallways to pass through, and no more bats. After this you just follow the arrows. The trail makes some turns and twists, end it is important that you look carefully for the arrows. We lost the trail a few times, and had to go back and search for arrows. The most difficult part is at the top, approximately 50 m before you reach the walls. There the trail makes a sharp, horizontal traverse to the right, and the crucial arrow was hard to see. There is only one gate in the walls, and you won’t have a chance to get in unless you find it. No problem if you just pay attention to the trail and arrows, but we didn’t at first and came up at the wrong place. Neither is it possible to walk along the walls. You will find lovely shade in the ruins at the top, but nothing else, except from a flagpole with a Turkish flag. When you go back down you can choose to go through the first part of the tunnel. This is the creepy part where the bat-colony really lives. There were no bats in the upper part this time, but that doesn’t go for the lower part. There were hundreds and hundreds of bats, the floor covered with bat-excrements, and a smell that is, well, hard to describe. At the lower end you must climb up through the hole mentioned before (very easy) and you are back on the trail. We all went through the whole tunnel; it was absolutely an experience, but nothing you have to do if you don’t want to. The trail actually goes around it; you just step out of the tunnel after you have come through the upper part. You have to go through the upper part though, there is no way around that, but that’s easy. Don’t let that scare you off.
Remember to bring plenty of water, and don’t go alone. You may not be found for days if you should fall and get hurt.
In northern Europe this would have been a major attraction, mapped, signposted, with guides, souvenir-shops and expensive entrance fees. Here it is up to you to explore, and it is absolutely worth it!
This review was written after a visit in June 2014.
The castle was built in the 11th century on top of a tall cliff, and the only way to get up is by following a steep trail that in some places have steps carved into the mountain, and in some places go through a tunnel. The castle is relatively well preserved, not nearly excavated, and not “touristified” at all. You will probably be the only visitors that day if you go, we met no one. There are no signs, no Coca-Cola machines, no admission fee, nothing but nature and ruins, and of course bats! Extremely different from what you usually see at the coast. That’s also why it can be a bit hard to find, and to get to. We were a family of four, two teenage kids and middle aged parents. We are all in good shape and used to hiking in steep mountains, but not experienced climbers. You must be prepared to climb, but it’s not at all difficult climbing, and it helps if you like Indiana Jones! You should not be afraid of the dark, and you should be able to handle a few bats flying around your head!
We hired a car, found Alara Castle on Google Maps on our phone, and followed the GPS on the phone. That made it easy to find, but we would have had a hard time without the GPS. It’s only a 10-15 min drive from the main road (D400) running along the coast, but no signs and many crossings. Go to Alrarahan caravanserai which was a resting place on the Silk Road that the castle on the cliff was set to protect. All the other tourists stop here. Pass it and continue about 500 m, as long as the road goes, and park by the road or at the small restaurant at the end of the road.
The trail starts at the end of the road, just after the last restaurant and farm that lies by the river, on the east side of the river. You cross some fields and old greenhouses, but then head towards the river again and get onto a good path. An old lady at the farm insisted on showing us the way. She didn’t speak a word of English but “tunnel”, but was very helpful, and followed us the first part of the way which was a bit hard to find across the fields. She obviously also expected some payment for her services. As long as you follow the east bank of the river you can’t miss the trail. After about 500 m, when it gets steep, you will begin to see the red arrows that are painted on the stone. These are essential. You won’t have a chance to get up unless you follow the arrows, and look carefully for them. It is some years since they were painted, and some are very faded. Some places they mark essential turns that you must not miss. There is actually only one tunnel. It is probably about 30-50 m long, but in the middle the roof has fallen down so it looks like two tunnels. The first opening is close to the riverbank, but is just a small hole in the ground right next to the trail on the right side. You will miss it if you don’t look carefully. You will see a bright colored blue bathing bridge at the riverbank just below it. But: Don’t go in there. Follow the trail that is getting steep, until you get to the next opening (where the roof has fallen down), and enter the tunnel there. More on why later. Inside the tunnel are steps carved into the ground, but some of them are destroyed and missing so watch your step. There are actually small openings in the roof to let a little light in, but you will have to wait long to adapt to the darkness that feels pitch dark in the beginning. It is very helpful to have a torch, we used our mobile phones and that worked just fine. And now comes the scary part, at least to some of us. There are bats in the tunnel! In this upper part there are not very many, we saw 20 maybe, and the will fly out as you approach them. Nothing to worry about at all, but it really makes you feel like Indiana Jones. If somebody has gone through the tunnel before you, they may all be gone for a long time. There are no more tunnels after this, just a couple of very short hallways to pass through, and no more bats. After this you just follow the arrows. The trail makes some turns and twists, end it is important that you look carefully for the arrows. We lost the trail a few times, and had to go back and search for arrows. The most difficult part is at the top, approximately 50 m before you reach the walls. There the trail makes a sharp, horizontal traverse to the right, and the crucial arrow was hard to see. There is only one gate in the walls, and you won’t have a chance to get in unless you find it. No problem if you just pay attention to the trail and arrows, but we didn’t at first and came up at the wrong place. Neither is it possible to walk along the walls. You will find lovely shade in the ruins at the top, but nothing else, except from a flagpole with a Turkish flag. When you go back down you can choose to go through the first part of the tunnel. This is the creepy part where the bat-colony really lives. There were no bats in the upper part this time, but that doesn’t go for the lower part. There were hundreds and hundreds of bats, the floor covered with bat-excrements, and a smell that is, well, hard to describe. At the lower end you must climb up through the hole mentioned before (very easy) and you are back on the trail. We all went through the whole tunnel; it was absolutely an experience, but nothing you have to do if you don’t want to. The trail actually goes around it; you just step out of the tunnel after you have come through the upper part. You have to go through the upper part though, there is no way around that, but that’s easy. Don’t let that scare you off.
Remember to bring plenty of water, and don’t go alone. You may not be found for days if you should fall and get hurt.
In northern Europe this would have been a major attraction, mapped, signposted, with guides, souvenir-shops and expensive entrance fees. Here it is up to you to explore, and it is absolutely worth it!
This review was written after a visit in June 2014.
Written 29 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leon D
Ipswich, UK42 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
There are 3 ways you can see this, either use the numerous bus services to the top and back down, take a taxi [ be careful of the costs ] or do what I did, walk up the entire route. It is though a 3 mile hike to the top and back down, so it's a gruelling challenge on the legs. But as you make you way up the very steep inclines, the numerous views are stunning. There are numerous watering holes on the way. You will be amazed at what you see, but you do need a head for heights. Once at the top, take a few minutes to get your breath back, you can see right across Alanya harbour, Alanya coast line, across to the mountains and hill tops. One for the brave, but well well worth the effort.
Written 10 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nomi M
5 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
Very Nice Tour to Kalesi. We visit the Mosque and had a good guide who tell us about the ritual the muslim people have, very interesting. We stop at two different place to See the view, the east side with the red tower and to Cleopatra beach. Very Nice place. There are Even small shops you can buy clothes, signering to drink and blankets. We did also See the old graveyard.
Written 1 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ailsa U
Lancashire, UK4 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
Fantastic views amazing place a must vist and very cheap the steps are very step but well worth the climb a must .
Written 30 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Drakonas
Vilnius, Lithuania97 contributions
May 2014 • Solo
You may reach Alara castle only by car. Be careful with old man near kervansaray. Sometimes he is telling that there is no road, but continue going. You may leave a car very close to the mountain. The "local" guide is really not needed. Just cross some gardens and green houses and continue going on the left side of the mountain. You will reach dark tunnel. So it is better to have torch with you. Be very careful on edges as there is no any fence. One of the most important things are: have enough water with you, do not go in the middle of the day because it is very hot. Normally parking is free of charge, but after you go down you may relax in one of the restaurants on water.
Written 23 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy W
Scarborough, UK160 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
Take the cable car up and then the shuttle bus to the top, we didnt use the bus and we should have. The views and the history are simply amazing. Cost so little 18 lire return for the cable car and about 20 lire for the castle entry so thats about £6 all in
Written 2 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
allmandj
Bromborough, UK5 contributions
Sept 2018 • Family
Get a taxi or coach to the top and then take the cable car down. The view over Cleopatra beach is amazing
Written 9 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daria J
Nottingham, UK30 contributions
Sept 2018 • Friends
Good place. Just if you decide to walk there.... Think twice. Its relly far and its a steep hill so the best would be to take a taxi on the top and then walk down.
Written 8 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tugay T
Ankara, Türkiye
Konaklı beldesinden nasıl ulaşabilirim? Toplu taşıma var mıdır?Teşekkürler...
Written 18 April 2016
Petruuuu
Budapest, Hungary
Hi,
I would be interested if it's reachable with bike from Alanya without having to pass roads with major traffic? I mean is there any smaller beach roads or only a highway?
Thanks in advance.
Written 19 June 2015
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